Pixelmator Pro will use artificial intelligence to power photo editing features

Pixelmator, the company behind a $30 image editing application for Mac, has just announced a new product called Pixelmator Pro. Though it hasn't yet been revealed how much this software will cost, the company has detailed many of its features, some of them powered by artificial intelligence.

The editor itself has a single-window design alongside a 'reimagined editing workflow,' the company explains, saying its app is 'totally and completely' designed for Apple's operating system. Despite the simplicity of its design, Pixelmator Pro is promised to pack a robust array of tools for editing images (including Raw files), digital painting, adjusting colors, adding non-destructive effects, and more.

Speaking to The Verge, Andrius Gailiunas of Pixelmator explained that Pixelmator Pro is designed for use by anyone. "Our goal has always been to create an image editor that absolutely anyone could use and enjoy," says Gailiunas. Because the software is designed for Mac, users will have access to iCloud backups and syncing, support for the Touch Bar on new MacBook Pro laptops, and support for split-screen multitasking.

Pixelmator plans to launch its Pro application this autumn, but hasn't stated the price yet. In that same interview with The Verge, the company said it will price Pro as affordably as possible; however, we presume it will cost more than the $30 they're charging for the regular Pixelmator editor.

No, that's just greed. Real intelligence is doing what you do well and love and being able to make something special. If you can make a good living, too, then all the better. Doing what you suggest gives us Windows 8 or the equivalent.

xectis, it's understandable because you may have not fully comprehended nor understood the article. The application uses the Mac OSX's Machine Learning Core and services, something that has no equivalent under Windows for developers.

mactheweb By your user name I gather you are a Mac type person and all power to you. My point was a call to the developers/CEO that they have an opportunity to enhance their profit margins by catering to the higher percentage of the populous but if you feel they are happy with their lot then it's all good. Am a Windows user, just because it happened, however I know Mac is a formidable OS though not as good as BeOS would have been if the management had run its business properly. The Microsoft corporation also had a lot to do with its demise.

Gmon750 I take your point, Windows was never conceived properly so no matter how beautifully they paint it on the outside it's core remains rotten.

NuKunukoo I may have not fully comprehended nor understood the article. However, so many other product developers have fully succeeded in creating their wares for both Mac and Windows so it's not an impossible task.

Me: "Okay, this edit's good..."Pixelmator Pro: "No it's not, this is how you want it..."Me: "Wait, no, now you ruined it!"Pixelmator Pro "No, it is perfect, this is exactly how you want and I will keep undoing any change you make..."Me: "..."Pixelmator Pro "Now let me finish the rest of your photos... in the meantime, you will love to watch a video of cute cats..."

I’m very excited about this. I was about the fork out $69 for MacPhun Luminar as a Mac Photos plug-in. The interface of this looks interesting and a little like Aperture which I just swapped from after it stopped being supported in High Sierra. If this is cheaper and better intergrates then luminar I hope it comes out sooner than later

I've used Pixelmator for picture editing four books over the last six months. Just one real issue - it doesn't handle cmyk, so I have to use a second app (the excellent Affinity Photo) for the final rgb>cmyk export. Apart from that little glitch, I'm looking forward to Pixelmator Pro.

Apple builds a lot of technology into their OS. Because Pixelmator uses, but doesn't have the expense of developing this technology, allows for a low price. Just $29.99 for the present 64 bit software http://www.pixelmator.com/mac/ I don't expect Pixelmator to be very expensive—and you own it ;-)

But in that case, your photo is not YOUR picture anymore. Artificial Intelligence is not your intellectual power, and one day - sooner or later - we might see a fight between the "photographer" and the obscur dude who made the "intelligent" software about the rights on the photo produced. We have recently seen that with a monkey, so why not with a monKeyBoard ?

@WilliamJ, neither you, or I have ACTUALLY USED Pixelmator Pro. So everything is speculation at this point. As far as I'm concerned AI is just another tool. Apple has spent billions on developing AI. And Pixelmator will piggyback on Apple's AI.

Do you worry that the programer who wrote your raw converter will steal your copywrite? Well you better watch-out, just like Apple, FaceBook, Amazon, Google and MicroSoft are into AI BIG time. Everybody wants to steal your photos ;-)

Meh. I don't fear AI or devs attempting to take ownership of my photos in the future because, unlike the monkey example given, there's no argument that I started the legally recognized chain of events by taking the original photo.

At that point, anyone would countersue for overreach and illegal appropriation, no matter what the TOS says; They paid for the software. It's when the software is "free to use" without open source protections where that hypothetical can become an issue.

But I sympathize with both sides. PETA is just trying to bankrupt a photographer for their own ego.

The "artificial intelligence" sounds cool, so the marketing is just using it, and it sparks a lot of discussion, again good for marketing, and so on.In fact is a bit of machine learning used to identify stuff.

For example:The algorithm can "learn" to recognize horizon line through some millions of images, and it will allow you to click an "auto horizon line" instead of drawing the line yourself in PS straighten tool.The algorithm can learn how saturation is "desirable" through training on some million of artistically processed images, and when using "enhanced saturation tool" it will try to saturate different based on the subject it detect. Go easier on skin tones and stronger on flowers, as you increase a slider.

It will not be an AI that will create images for you, it will work as the auto-contrast works now. But instead of failing 99% of the times, it will fail only 70% of the times.

Technically speaking, AI can be just as creative (or dumb) as a human. Some day at least. OTOH, any AUTO function, even a camera's auto exposure, can be considered AI. So, there really is a huge grey area and in the end, creativity is always judged by us humans.

This looks ad/presentation oriented. Interesting controls and features. Could be a good tool to add to your chest if you need that sort of thing. For photographers who only edit images as in Lightroom etc., this goes beyond.

@composedI am totally aware of that. I didn't mean I want a better application for cataloging. what I meant is: Most of photoghrahgers will be more interested in Pixelmator Pro if it has cataloging feature:)

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